Signal-control apparatus



J. H. DOWNS Jul 8, 1924.

SIGNAL CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20,

( ll ucul'ot July 8, 1924. "150mm J. H. DOWNS SIGNAL CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20 1923 2 SheeLs-Sheet 2 anucufo'c Patentedduly 8, 1924.

STATES JOSEPH H. DOWNS, or FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

SIGNAL-CONTROL APPARATUS;

Application filed November 20, 1923. Serial No. 675,900;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH Downs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Control Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. a

This invention relates to a signal control apparatus and particularly to a construction adapted to complete a signal circuit and maintain the same for a predetermined time after which thecircuit is automatically broken to release or relieve the signal. 1 Previous devices of this character have been adapted to retard the breaking of'the circuit but did not provide for the cooperation of signal circuit makers at opposite sides of a crossing with an intermediate circuit breaker timed in its action to maintain anopen circuit until a car passes over the second circuit maker.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction in which circuit breakers are disposed at opposite sides of the crossing and provided with means to maintain the circuit until the car reaches the crossing where a circuit breaker is disposed and has retarding means to maintain an open circuit until the circuit maker has been restored toa similar position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel-and improved construction of circuit maker or breaker comprising a tensioned actuating lever connected to a piston disposed within a cylinder which has an intake check valve and an adjustable outlet valve, said piston carrying" one member of a circuit contact disposed to contact with a cooperating member supported by the cylinder.

Other objects andadvantageso f the invention will be hereinafter set forth and 4'5 thenovel features thereof defined by the appended claims. 1 I In the drawings:

lFigure 1 is a side elevation showing the invention applied;

Figure 2 is a similar view of one of the circuit makers with the cylindenmembers in section; p a

Figure 3isa like view of the circuit breaker; and

Figure 4t is a detailed section on line of Figure 3. Like reference characters designate corresponding arts throughout the several fig ure's of the drawing.

This invention is adapted for application to either a single or double trackrailway system and for operation by the flange of a car wheel or other member carried by a moving vehicle. In the application of the invention illustrated it is applied to asingle track railway with the circuit makers disposed at opposite sides of a crossing and the circuit breaker intermediate thereo f at approximately the crossing point.

The numeral 10 designates the rails, and at one side thereof a flat spring member 1 1 is secured at one end 1 2 and adapted tocontact with a sliding plunger 13 which is limited infits upward movement a flange or collar' 14 and pivotally connected at its lower end to a lever 15 sus ended by a 'l i nk '16 from a suitable support, asfat 17. This lever i S' pivoted at its outer end 1 8130 a *I'Od 19 extending from a piston 20 disposed- Within a cylinder 21 which is provided at its lower portion with anintake pipe 22. This pipe is provided with an intake check valve 23 of any desired character, for instance comprising a spring-pressed ball 24 as shown in Figure 3, and is also provided with a needle valve 25 adjustably mounted in a casing 26 to control the outlet from said cylinder and thereby establish the timing for the restoring movement of the piston and the consequent period within which the circuit is maintained.

The circuit contact members may comprise an elongated arm 27 supported by a lateral bracket 28 from the upper end of the piston rod 19and adapted to cooperate at its lower portion 29 with a contact plate 30 mounted uponthe cap3-1 for the cylinder 21. A suitable circuit wiring 32 extends to this plateSO anda wiring 33 to the arm 27 at its mounting 'upon the bracket. I

The lever 15 may-be provided with any suitable tensioning means, a desirable form being the weights 34 adjustably suspended.

therefrom' 'by means of the apertures'35 in the lever so that the Weights maybe shifted relative to theflfulcrum of the lever and the numberther'eof varied at will.

The construction of the circuit breaker is substantially the same as that described in connection with the circuit maker with the exceptionthat the bracket arm 28 from the piston 19 carries ablade 36 cooperating with opposite contacts 37 mounted upon the plate 38 carriedby the cylinder'cover'31 to form a knife switch. This blade 36 may be provid ed with a conducting covering 39 insulated therefrom as shown at40 :in Figure-4. I

In the form of the invention shown, two contacts cooperatewith this blade, one controlling each of the circuit makers and the lines 32 and 33 from these makers extend to these contacts so as to control both of the circuit makers through the single circuit breaker. From the line 32 a line ll extends to a signal device of any desired character while a similar line 42 extends from the line "33 througha battery43 or other source of power tothe signalling mechanism.

- 1 .-In-the operationofthe invention it will ment establishing the signal'circuit.

be seen that a car approaching from the right willdepress the spring and plunger, lifting the lever as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, thus raising the piston and producing an intakeof air within the cylinder. .As soon as the wheel passes from the trackspringthe weight upon the lever begins a restoring movement thereof and the circuit contacts are at that tlme 1n engage- The i periodrequired for the escape of the air or [fluid pressure from the cylinder is deter fminedby' the adjustable regulating valve and the circuit maintained for such period unless'sooner broken by the clrcuit breaker disposed at the crossing: -This circuit breaker being engaged by. the flange of the car wheeloperates in a similar manner to the circuit makers but breaks the circuits to both thereofso thatif the circuit maker first actu- ,ated has not been restored to open circuit poheld openduring thatperiod.

sition, the circuit will be broken and the s gnal released as soon as the car passes the crossing. Thecircuit breaker is timed for a retarding operatlonsufl'imently, longto permit the restoring movement of the circuit maker and consequently the car in passing over the second circuit maker has no eiiect upon the circuit to the signal mechanism and this second circuit maker is'operated and restored without afiectlng the clrcuit which is It will be seen that the invention provides "a simple, 'efiicient and economically manufac tured apparatus for controlling'a crossing signal from] either direction of travel and preventing any repeated operation thereof While the invention is shown as applied scribed, still the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. a

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a signal control apparatus, a circuit maker, a device disposed for actuation by a vehicle wheel to establish circuit to a signal mechanism, a circuit breaker connected to control said signal circuit, means for actuating said breaker by the wheel of a vehicle and means for retarding the movement 0t said circuit breaker to control the action of said circuit maker,

2. In a signal control device, a circuit maker comprising contacts adapted to maintain circuit to a signal device for a predetermined time, means adapted for actuation by a wheel for establishing said circuit and meansto regulate the retarding action for breaking said circuit, and a circuit breaker connectedto said circuit maker to control the circuit therefrom and having retarding means to maintain an open circuit until'the circuit maker is restored to initial position.

3. In a signal control device, a plurality of circuit makers each adapted to be actuated by a carwheel, means for retarding the restoring movement of said circuit makers, an intermediate circuit breaker conthe restoring movement of said'piston, contact members connected in circuit witheach of the circuit makers, and a cooperating contact blade carried by said piston to'engage said contacts. 1

5. In a signal control apparatus, a cylinder and piston, an intake for said cylinder having an. inlet check valveand an adjustable outlet valve, a contact member'carrie'd by therod of said piston; a. cooperating con- 7 tact supported upon said cylinder andmeans for actuating said piston by a car wheel.

6. In a signal control apparatus, a cylin der and piston, an intake for said cylinder having an inlet check valve and an adjustable outlet valve, a contact member carried by the rod of said piston, a cooperating contact supported upon said cylinder, a pivoted lever connected to said piston, a plunger at one end of said lever, and a spring contact disposed above said plunger.

7. In a signal control apparatus. a cylin' der and piston, an intake for said cylinder having an inlet check valve and an adjustable outlet valve, a contact member carried by the rod of said piston, a cooperating contact supported upon said cylinder, a pivoted lever connected to said piston, a plunger at one end of said lever, and an adjustable Weight mounted upon said lever.

8. 'In a signal control apparatus, a cylinder. provided With intake and outlet valves, a piston disposed therein and provided with a rod, a bracket projected laterally from said rod, means for actuating said rod from a track device, and circuit contacts comprising a depending arm carried by said bracket and disposed parallel to a cooperating plate supported by said cylinder.

9. In a signal control apparatus, a cylinder provided with intake and outlet valves, a piston disposed therein and provided with a rod, a bracket projected laterally from said rod, means for actuating said rod from a track device, and a knife switch member carried by said bracket and disposed to cooperate with opposite contacts supported from said cylinder.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH H. DOl/VNS 

